Osceola first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Osceola has been for the last 36 years (from 1974 to 2009) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Osceola

A Native American name meaning "black drink cry" or "shoutout leader".

Popularity of Osceola by gender

Based on the last 36 years of data, Osceola is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2009, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Osceola.

Year Male Count Female Count
2009 5 0
1976 5 0
1974 5 0

The history of the first name Osceola

Osceola is a Native American name derived from the Creek language. The name originated among the Seminole tribe, a Native American people who historically inhabited the Florida region. It is believed to have emerged in the early 19th century.

The name Osceola is a compound word formed from the Creek terms "asi" meaning "black" and "holo" meaning "drink." The literal translation of Osceola is "black drink," which refers to a traditional tea made from the leaves of the Ilex vomitoria plant, also known as the yaupon holly. This tea was used in ceremonial rituals by various Native American tribes in the southeastern United States.

One of the most famous historical figures bearing the name Osceola was a Seminole leader who played a significant role in the Second Seminole War (1835-1842) against the United States. Born in the early 1800s, Osceola led the Seminole resistance against the forced relocation of his people to lands west of the Mississippi River. He became a prominent figure in the conflict and was eventually captured by the U.S. Army in 1837 under controversial circumstances.

In ancient texts and historical records, the name Osceola is not widely documented. However, it has been mentioned in accounts related to the Seminole Wars and the history of Florida during the 19th century.

Other notable individuals named Osceola include:

  1. Osceola (1804-1838), the famous Seminole leader mentioned above.
  2. Osceola Turl (1883-1961), a Native American artist and educator from the Choctaw Nation.
  3. Osceola Chitto Harjo (1906-1980), a traditional Creek medicine man and leader of the Muscogee Creek Nation.
  4. Osceola Mays (1887-1977), a Native American educator and activist from the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.
  5. Osceola Phillips (1915-2004), a Seminole artist and craftsman known for his woodcarvings and traditional dolls.

The name Osceola has been carried through history by various individuals, primarily from Native American communities, and holds significant cultural and historical significance, particularly in relation to the Seminole tribe and their struggles against forced relocation and oppression.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Osceola was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Osceola, please contact us.

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"Osceola first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 30, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/osceola-meaning-and-history/.

"Osceola first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/osceola-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 30 June, 2025

Osceola first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/osceola-meaning-and-history/.

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